Tony Tolbert

Tolbert was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (85th overall) of the 1989 NFL draft,^[3] after falling because he was considered a tweener (slow to play linebacker and light for a defensive end at 230 pounds). As a rookie, Tolbert was converted into a defensive end. He started five games at left defensive end over Ed "Too Tall" Jones, making 52 tackles, two sacks, 18 quarterback pressures, five passes defensed (led the team) and one forced fumble.^[4] Tolbert had 10 tackles, one pass defensed and one forced fumble against the Kansas City Chiefs.

In 1990, Tolbert played at both end positions and defensive tackle on passing downs. He started four games, in place of an injured Jim Jeffcoat and Danny Stubbs. He registered 55 tackles, six sacks (third on the team), 24 quarterback pressures (third on the team), three passes defensed and one forced fumble.

In 1991, Tolbert took advantage of a contract holdout by Stubbs and became the regular starter at left defensive end. He posted 73 tackles (fifth on the team), seven sacks (led the team), 25 quarterback pressures (led the team), five passes defensed and two forced fumbles.

In 1996, he was named to the Pro Bowl, when he had a career-high of 12 sacks and 85 tackles.

Tolbert played with chronic knee pain through the final years of his career, because of a degenerative knee condition. Despite playing in pain, Tolbert started all 16 games in 1997, compiled five sacks and led all Cowboys defensive linemen in tackles for the seventh consecutive season, with 60. Tolbert's five sacks were the most on the team that year.

On June 16 1998, Tolbert was released because of his declining performance while playing on aching knees.

As a defensive end for the Cowboys from 1989-1997, Tolbert played an important role in the Cowboys' rise to prominence in the 1990s and their three Super Bowl victories. Tolbert became one of the stalwarts on one of the best defenses of the 1990s. During that time, he teamed up with Charles Haley to become one of the top pass-rushing duos in the NFL. Although Tolbert came into the league as a pass rush specialist, he developed into an effective run stopper, making him the leading tackler among Cowboy defensive linemen for seven straight years.

During Tolbert's career, he recorded 59 quarterback sacks in 128 games played over the course of nine seasons, plus he returned his only interception 54 yards for a touchdown. He had more sacks during the 1990s than any other Cowboy player.

Ten years after Tolbert retired, he had knee-replacement surgery on both knees, the result of seven knee surgeries during his nine-year career.^[5]